Meningococcal Shortcomings Apply to Cancer Vaccine

MEDIA RELEASE
23 July 2008

Meningococcal Vaccine Shortcomings Also Apply to Cancer Vaccine

Family First NZ says the revelation that the free meningococcal vaccinations that were given to children provide only short term protection, resulting in a false sense of security for parents, also applies to the Gardasil vaccine.

Teenage girls will be offered anti-cervical cancer immunisation costing $150 million to the taxpayer over the next 5 years.

“Yet the drug Gardasil also has a limited shelf life with tests showing that the drug may only last four years, that long term results aren’t known, and that testing on young girls has been extremely limited,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“This means that parents may have their young teenager vaccinated, believing that they are then protected, yet it may be completely ineffective by the time she becomes sexually active.”

The Food and Drug Administration in the US says “The duration of immunity following a complete schedule of immunization with Gardasil has not been established.”

Mr McCoskrie says “As with the meningococcal vaccine, parents deserve the full facts on all vaccines. It seems that in our laudable drive to protect our kids, we are not being given the full picture and are being lulled into a false sense of security.”

“It is a reminder to our political leaders and health authorities that parents must be given the full facts, must not be bullied into getting vaccines, and that throwing money at a problem doesn’t not necessarily make the problem go away.”

“Education is an important factor. In the case of our teenagers and the anti-cervical cancer immunisation, education about delaying sexual activity would be a highly economical and effective way of protecting them.”

“Parents have every right to be concerned about the information that has been withheld regarding vaccines being given to our children,” says Mr McCoskrie.

ENDS